LAVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB A meeting to consider the ad visability of forming a football club at Laverton, was held on Wednes day evening, March 26, in the Laver ton State school, under the presi dency of Mr. B. J. Maher. Not withstanding the adverse weather conditions there was a fairly repre sentative attendance. As is the case with most meet ings of this kind, the business was short and of a preliminary charac ter. Those present appeared to favor the object of the meeting and it was decided to form a club to be known as the Laverton football club. Mr. G. N. Grant was elected secretary, pro tem. A letter was received from Mr. E. J. West, secretary of the Metro. Farm. football club, inviting the Laverton club to join in with Wer ribee, Metro. Farm, Little River and Lara; the object being to form an association for the ensuing season. It was unanimously resolved to ac cept. the invitation, and Mr. L. Newlands, Mr. Wm. Grant, and Mr G. N. Grant were chosen to act as representing: Laverto...

WERRIBEE SHIRE COUNCIL. SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1918., Present-Ore. Troup (in the.chair) McMurray, Johnson, Shaw, Bayley, Comben, Volant, Sexton; Robinson, and Browne. - CORRESPONDENOE. From secretary Metro. Board of Work, stating that the Farm com mittee will be in Werribee at 10.45 on Friday '4th prox., and will be pleased to confer with the Council at the Shire Hall, with reference to the question of their board con tributing towards the cost of main taining certain roads in the shire. -Secretary to make arrangements to meet the visitors. From Stock and Dairy Super vision Branch, stating that a com plaint had been lodged touching the promises occupied by Mrs. Eliza both Noep, Moelbieurne Road, Footo-: cray, on which? is conducted the business of a dairy farm, under the Milk and Dairy -Supervision Act. Cr. Robinson moved and Cr. Sexton seconded, that the engineer report. From Postmaster-General's De partment, re the erection of a letter receiver in Station-street, Werribee is being co...

PICTURE MA~'IirAlAGES. Marringcs in Japan are customari ly contracted through third parties, but the "picture marriaga" has he come the exclusive means of arraug lng matrimonial ventures between girls in Japan and men in Hawaii or on the far side of the Pacific. Portraits . of the girls are sent in batches, not only by friends or rela tives of the parties concerned, but also by specially-formed bodies, and at recipient on making a selection sends back word for the marriage contract to be made out and the chosen girl sent to him. For the most part marriage- con tracts arct_ enteredj into by, total strangers, and'lt has hecomen no 'un- ', common spectaclo to" see men and women on the- piers at Honolulu and San Francisco seeklng, with the aid of reputed likenesses, to identify their future life-partners. It is said that diflerences between the portraits and their originals snmetimes lead to painful scenes. "Picture marriage" was first intro dulced four or five years ago, but it has gro...

Gopyrig~ht. SQUIRE JOHN. A. NARRATIVE OF STIRRING ADVENTURE. By George St. Rathborne, Author of "Doctor Jack," "A Sou of Mars," "The Man from Denver," etc. -.eRT 1I. CI-IAPTER VII. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. The picture when Travers proclaims tis identity Is certainly one well o. rth seeing, especially the conster n.-ian stamped upon the features of that remarzable man with whom Jack hclds his interview. Senor floblado is apparently stlicken dumb for the time being; the hand that holds the smoking ciygtr trembles as might an aspen le.f, and sle fierce black eyes undcer the shaggy grey brows are fastened on the Yankee with the look of a hungry wolf. ") on are the gecnuite Jack Trav era ! You who sit there dare tell mle that as coolly as you might epeak ef your igarro 1 'Peor Dioes' man, I admire youlr nerve, though you have come near shattering mine with your devilish lntellfgence. I feared trench cry ; I prepared against it, but 'hola' ! you overvwhlm me. Still, a Roblfado never surendee-...

nIECORD CHEQUES. The cheque for: £5,173,572 which was recently drawn by the Royal MIil Steam Packet Company for the purchase of the Union Castle Com pany has been erroneously styled -a record draft. Tihe largest cheque on record was for .C11,008,,75, paid over the counter of the Bank of England to the Jap anese Minister as the first instalment of the Chinese indemnity for the war of 1895. The second instalment of the same indemniulty ranks as second largest, being CS,225,000. The Royal Malt Steam Packet Com pany's cheque was Just eclipsed by Be. Deer's cheque for .5,338,660 in purchase of the Kimhberley Central Company, and therefore talkes fourth place in the list of record drafts. The fifth largest was the one for .X4,860,440 which- changed hands at the Japanese Emlbassy in London, in 1907, as balance due to Japan from Russia in settlement of the account for maintenanco of Russian prisoners of war in Japan. The next is the .£4,791,754 cheque drawn by Mlr. Plerpont Morgan in connec...

COMPLETE SHORT STORY. A PRESENT-DAY PRODIGAL. THE OLD METHOD IMPRIOVED ON. "Ouv'nor in 7" A wooden-faced clerk looked up and nodded. Robert Dane strode across the room and pushed open the familiar door. "I've come back." "So I ace," was the curt responne. Just the difference of age-that was all in the two faces that looked at each other across the table. 'And if you expect the fatted calf and all that-don't," the elder man went on. lie looked at his son, noting with keen eyes the somewhat shabby suit. ''Yoni've been away six years," he said slowly; "six years-time tenugh to have done something." 'Quite right, dad." Robert's tone was slightly frivo lous, and the old man frowned. "And you've come back, as I alwnys knew you would, as Ibdly offil s you went -shablby and penniless." ''No. father, you're wrong there. I wasn't shabby whenl I went away . "o i't yoll remember you had only just paid old Snip's hill 7" -He look edl down at his clothes reflectively. "Can't get mnuch of it ct in...

WERRIBEM SENIOR CADETS. The concert hbold by the local Ca:lets last week in `,id of btheir prloosed gymnasium was a success Captain Chiruside forwarded along a cheque, for £5,- which was the amount that they were out to get that the3 might commence early for the coming season. The eveniiitn itself was very en joyable,, the' pictures being good and the mnusical part (Miss Tyzack piano) being excellont. Thel idea of a b.i;e hand in the Company ,has also taken a prolpeor step, Mr. George'Chirnside sending along a cuhque for £'9, beoing the necessary cost of bu les ind druans for a company. In many com panics that aire een ?titparades in anid iabout Melbourne athey have to be satisfiedl with a bugler :whilst Worribea will have fotr bugles and two - drummersr It is. proposed that if all arrangemeinds etc., canu be' made that the piresentation of instruments shall take pllace in the WVerribee Reserve at. an early (late.

* COURSI"NG NOTES.. Entries for the flrstnmeeting Encourage Stakes-to be held on Monday, week, . will close .with the secretary next 'Wednesday evening at 6.30.' 'Draw will' take place at Canny's Hotel. the same evening at 8 o'clock. Com mittee please note..'

MAU R10E-GE RALD -OOM PALNY A SAILORAND HIS. SWEETREARTT The return of Mr. Gerald and his fine company will be , wel comed on Friday evening, April 18th, when :one of Charles Arnold's great plays, " A Sailor and his Sweetheart,'.' will be staged. Mr. Gerald was to have played last week but on account of the R.C. Mission he ipostponed his appearance until Friday eve-. ing, April 18th. Since Mr. Gerald last played in Werribee he .had .a most successful season of 7 nights in Geelong, 4 nights in Castlemaine, 4 nights in Kyne ton,. and 6 nights in Bendigo. Dur: exchanges speak highly of Mr. Gerald's Company. .

CROQUET NOTES.. -The ladies': championship tour nament :has' reached the semi finil.stage., ?Mrs. M'Donald has. to meet Mrs.. McAliede,; and the win-era?wi3ll xayv; Vq ·a alterin. the final games. Two games out of ;three ..must be won by the successful competitor. The tour nament will be concluded, wea ther, etc.,, permitting on Satur day next.. The ladies of the Studley Park club have invited the A team of the Werribee Club to. play the return match on Wednesday next, 16th inst.